Bathtub protector



May 18, 1943 R. E. HENRY 2,319,603 I BATH TUB PROTECTOR Filed April 11, 1942 I NVEN TOR Patented May 18, 1943 UNlTED STATES Mam OFFICE BATHTUB PROTECTOR Robert E. Henry, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application April 11, 1942, Serial No. 438,534

'5 Claims. (01. 4-173) My invention relates to protective coverings for temporary use in connection with bath tubs and similar porcelain and enamel plumbing goods,

during the plastering, painting and other work conducted in a bathroom or the like.

The purpose of the cover is to prevent marring or staining of the glazed or highly finished surface of a bath tub or the like, such as frequently occurs during building construction, through the dropping of plaster, lime, paint or other injurious materials into the tub, or through workmen standing in the tub or dropping their tools into it.

My invention has for its object the provision of a covering which can be made simply and cheaply and preliminarily formed in such shape that it can be conveniently packaged for shipment, and thereafter installed with a. minimum of danger that the workmen will place it on a bath tub or the like in an improper manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide coverings of the type referred to which will drop into a proper protecting position at the ends of a bath tub upon merely fastening the marginal edges of the cover elements to the upper surface or rim of the tub.

As shown in the accompanying drawing, Fig ure 1 is a perspective view of a tub showing my protective covering in place thereon; Fig. 2 is a view, on a reduced scale, showing the manner in. which 'a sheet of material is cut preliminary to shaping it for use at an end of the tub; Fig. 3 shows one of the end covers completely formed ready f'or'installation in-the tub; Fig. 4 shows a sheet which is employed for covering certain of the tub areas between the ends thereof; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of one of the cover elements showing the manner in which the tacky surface of an adhesive strip is protected between the time the cover element is formed and the installation thereof in a tub.

The cover elements are shown as applied to the interior wall surfaces and the top or rim areas of a tub 6. The main covering element, that extends over the mid portion of the tub, consists simply of a rectangular sheet I of paper or other flexible material that has adhesive strips 8, 9 and I0, only a portion of whose adhesive surfaces have engagement with the sheet '5. the

strips projecting beyond the edges of the sheet,

so that there is exposed adhesive for connection with the rim of the tub, and with the floor of the room or the side of the tub, as shown more clearly at H! in Figs. 1 and 4. At the time of applying the adhesive strips to the sheet, a protective strip l l is placed over the projecting portion of the adhesive coating, so that such coating will be maintained in a tacky condition and protected from dirt until time for installing the cover. At that time, the protective strips II will be pulled away from the tacky surface, as indicated in Fig. 5, and the cover sheet can thereupon be adhesively connected to the tub surfaces.

My invention resides in the manner in which the end covering elements 12 and 13 are formed and applied. These elements are formed in substantially the same manner and, therefore, description of one will sufiice for both, it being understood, of course, that in each instance the adhesive strips are so applied and the pattern so folded that the longer two portions of the covers will extend downwardly along the outer sides of the tub. The end covers of paper, or other flexible material, are first cut to the form shown in Fig. 2, wherein each cover has a body portion M and wing portions l5 and [6. As here shown,v the edges l1 and I8 respectively of the wings l5 and. [6 are angularly disposed with respect to the edge IQ of the body portion. Y It is not essential that these edges are on straight lines, since a single curved cut of large radius could be employed, but the straight line edges produce a neater cover.

When the sheet has been cutas shown in Fig. 2, folds or creases will be made on lines 20 and 2| that extendin divergent directions from approximately the point of juncture between the edges I! and I9, and also creased or folded along lines 22 and 23 that extend in divergent directions from about the point of juncture between the edges I8 and I9. This folding operation brings the edges l1, l8 and I9 into longitudinal alignment with one another, whereupon adhesive strips 24, 25, 26 and 21 are applied in partially overlapping relation to the sheet, as shown by the adhesive strip indicated at 28in Fig. 5, the exposed areas of the adhesive strips being protected by the temporary protective strip II that is pulled away when the cover members are being attached to the tub. By folding the cover element as in Fig. 3, the adhesive strip 24 can be easily applied thereto, without wrinkling. The folds not only bring the edges l1, l8 and I9 into proper alignment for the application of the adhesive strip, but facilitate the placing of the element l2 in close fitting relation to the end and the adjacent side wall portions of the tub, since when the strip 24 is placed in position 'on the rim of the tub as in Fig. 1, the body portion I2 of the strip will tend to fall into place and conform to the contours of the tub without further wrinkling or creasing, the cover member [2 slightly overlying the large sheet 1 as indicated at the dash lines 29.

The curved edge portion at 30, of the wing ll, fits the curved contour of the tub at the line of juncture between the inside wall and the top surface or rim thereof, and the edge portion immediately below the curve at 30 will lie against the inner wall of the tub. Similarly, the wing I8 is curved at 3| to the contour at the opposite side of the tub. The folds at 20, 2|, 22 and 23 also permit of slight expansion and contraction of the cover to fit tubs of different widths or contours. Usually the cover will be so stretched that the folds will no longer be present when the cover is applied to the tub, the cover lying approximately flatwise against the tub wall. The lower extremity of the body portion l2 of the cover is bent laterally and attached to the sheet 1 by the tab 21.

Heretofore it has been common practice to cut protective covering elements in rectangularv form and then crease and fold them over the top, the vertical sides and the bottom of the tub, but if a single sheet is provided for each end of the tub, for example, to cover the upwardly-exposed surface as well as the end wall and adjacent portions of the side walls, it is very difficult to secure a proper fit even through the use of many creases or folds. For example, a rectangular sheet of sufficient width to extend to the bottom of the tub, if placed across the topmost surface at one end of the tub; would project over the tub in a horizontal position, and it could not be caused to lie against. the vertical end wall and the adjacent portions of the side walls, unless the cover element were made exceedingly large and numerous creases formed in: even that part which lies upon the topmost surfaces of the tub. If the cover were first placed against the vertical end wall and adjacent side wall portions of the tub; the upper edge thereof could not be flattened down neatly into snug engagement with the topmost surface of the tub rim and would leaveopenings for admission of grit behind the cover, and it would be so bulky thatit would be torn from its position by necessary movements of tile setters or plasterers. My cover fits so snugly against the tops and side Wall surfaces of the tub that there are no folds or bulges which interfere withthe workmen, and it is not likely to be accidentally torn from the tub;

I claim as my invention:

1. A protective cover-for a bath tub or the like, comprising a sheet ofifiexible material having a body portion arranged to cover an inner end surface of a tub and the adjacent rim'portion and of suflicient length to cover said end surface and portions of the adjacent side surfaces, wings formed on the body of the cover adjacent to its uppermost edge and in approximate longitudinal alignment therewith, the wing portions being arranged to cover the uppermost corner surfaces of a tub and the rims of the said adjacent side surface portions, pleats being formed in the sheet along lines which diverge downwardly from the ends of the uppermost edge of the body portion of the sheet.

2. A protective cover for a bath tub or the like, comprising a sheet of flexible material having a body portion that has win portions at opposite side edges thereof, the wing portions initially projecting beyond the uppermost edge of the body portion, downwardly-diverging pleats formed in the sheet, to bring the uppermost edge of the body portion and the adjacent edges of the wings into longitudinal alignment, and a strip secured to the sheet adjacent to said edges.

3. A protective cover for a bath tub or the like, comprising a sheet of flexible material having a body portion that has'wing portions at opposite side edges thereof, the wing portions initially projecting beyond the uppermost edge of the body portion, downwardly-diverging pleats formed in the sheet, to bring the uppermost edge of the body portion and the adjacent edges of the wings into longitudinal alignment, and a strip secured to the sheet adjacent to said edges, the strip being flexible and having an adhesive surface connected to the sheet along said edges and partly exposed for attachment to the tub.

4. A protective cover for a bath tub or the like, comprising a sheet of flexible material having a body portion that has wing portions at opposite side edges thereof, the wing portions initially projecting beyond the uppermost edge of the body portion, and downwardly-diverging pleats formed in the sheet, to bring the uppermost edge of the body portion and the adjacent edges of the wings into longitudinal alignment, the cover being cut on concavely-curved lines adjacent to the points of juncture between the inner edges of the wing portions and the body portion.

5. A protective cover for a bath tub or the like, comprising a sheet of flexible material having a body portion arranged to cover an inner end surface of a tub and the adjacent rim portion and of suflicient length to cover said end surface and portions of the adjacent side surfaces, wings formed on the body of the cover adjacent to its uppermost edge and in approximate longitudinal alignment therewith, the wing portions being arranged to cover the uppermost corner surfaces of a tub. and the rims of the said adjacent side surface portions, pleats being formed in the sheet along lines which diverge downwardly from the ends of the uppermost edge of the body portion of the sheet, the pleats being expansible to permit close fittin engagement of the cover with the adjacent upwardly-extending curved inner corners of a tub.

ROBERT HENRY. 

